Page 135 - Unseen Hands by Nona Freeman

Oppositionfrom Within and Without
speaking at the beginning of the service. The little notebook containing those dangerous predictions that could spell death for all of them lay on a bench several feet away. At the officer's gruff "Come with me," she held her baby close. She was almost overcome by fright and shock when he pointed to the bench and ordered, "Bring that book with you." Trembling, she picked up the Bible. "No!" he barked. "Bring the notebook with you."
She had thought she was afraid before;nowit seemed herviolently throbbingheartwouldleapoutofherthroat. The officers took all of the believers present to the police station.
As Erkenesh sat across the desk from the officer at the police station, an agony of fear gripped her. She could neither think nor pray as the man twirled the notebook in his hands while he asked her questions. She couldbarely whisper the expected answers. Suddenly she felt the delicate touch of an unseen presence. She could not see the angel, but he gently stilled the trembling of her body. The fretful baby, terrified in the strange atmosphere, relaxed against his mother.
The officer telephoned the colonel at the head- quarter's office, and Erkenesh heard both sides of the conversation.
"Who do you have?" the booming voice on the telephone asked.
"I brought a woman and her baby."
"W hat did she have?"
"She has a notebook."
She heard his oath as the colonel swore. "Tell her to
go home and take her baby and her book with her. We 133